Minutes - 20041005 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Paul M. Neebe Roger Petrich Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation Shawn Jeffries or Tony Hayes Orange County Artists Guild Louise Francke Mary Ruth Mary Ruth Karen L. Shelton Karen L. Shelton b. Transitional Steps in the Creation of an Animal Services Department/Bureau The Board received information on the analysis completed and actions underway to effect the creation of an Animal Services Department/Bureau by early 2005, should that be the decision of the Board. John Link said that last April the Board authorized the County to proceed to assume management of the Animal Shelter effective July 1St. At the April 20th meeting the Board did not make final decisions on the governance for animal services, but indicated that there should be a structure by which Animal Control and the Animal Shelter should be operated in one department or bureau. Since that time, Commissioner Carey has chaired the task force appointed by the Board that assisted the County staff in the operation of the shelter as well as the governance issues. Commissioner Carey commended the staff who worked with the transition of the shelter and also the task force. He thinks the transition has gone very well. The task force has some recommendations that will be shared with the Board. Although this task force will not immediately be sunset, the responsibility will be shifted to the advisory board, when it is appointed. Chair Jacobs said that he thought the task force would start talking about policies and procedures. Commissioner Carey said that they talked somewhat about policies and procedures because they reviewed the transitional document. He said that they were not sure whether this should be the responsibility of the current group or the new group. He hears that the new group is proposed to be operational by March 1St. He thinks this is too late. John Link said that staff has gone as far as they can until the Board has had a chance to respond. He made reference to the timetable on the last two pages of the agenda materials. John Link commended staff -Personnel Director Elaine Holmes, Assistant County Manager Gwen Harvey, Health Director Rosemary Summers, Finance Director Ken Chavious, Purchasing and Central Services Director Pam Jones, Todd Jones, and Shelter Director Joe Pulcinella, who has done a great job as shelter director and getting through the transition. Commissioner Halkiotis concurred with what Commissioner Carey said in that getting into March 2005 is too late to develop some of this. Animal issues excite people just as much as public school issues. He said that he has not heard anything negative about Joe Pulcinella, but he has heard grumblings from people that are getting impatient. He said that the community should have some input into the policies and procedures. He made reference to attachment 1, Proposed Animal Services Director, and said that this is a challenging position and they need to get rid of the perception that we are doing things the way they have always been done. Commissioner Carey said that the task force knows there is some unrest and people assume that things are the same. He said that the interim policies and procedures are